Expansion joint

ABSTRACT

A barrier strip for sealing a joint of a building structure to inhibit transmission of a fluid through the joint. The building structure has flooring and a wall including wall elements. The barrier strip comprises a first side of a first shape, corresponding to the profile of the flooring, and a second side of a second shape, being complementary to a profile of the wall element. The barrier strip is located intermediate to the flooring and the wall element with the first side of the barrier strip in contact with a part of the flooring and the second side is in alignment with the wall element to cooperatively engage with the profile of the wall element. The barrier strip seals the joint between the flooring and the wall element to inhibit the transmission of the fluid through the joint.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Australian Patent Application No. 2017902733, filed Jul. 12, 2017, and Australian Patent Application No. 2018900345, filed Feb. 5, 2018, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present description relates generally to products for sealing building structures, and to methods of installing the sealing products.

In one form the present description relates to products for sealing the joint between the floor or floor substrate and the walls of a commercial building or utilitarian building, such as for example, a farm building or similar, and to methods of installing the sealing products to seal the joint between the edge of the floor and the wall of the building.

In one form the present description relates to sealing products in the form of inserts for location intermediate the edge of the floor or flooring substrate and the components of the wall of a building to form an expansion joint therebetween so as to occupy any space or gap formed between the edge of the floor or flooring substrate and the wall components to seal the joint between the floor and wall of the building.

The present description finds particular application as a sealing product in the form of an expansion joint for location between the floor and wall of a building to inhibit transmission of fluid through the joint, such as for example, inhibiting or preventing ingress of water into the building through the joint, and/or preserving the joint against degradation over time due to movement of the wall with respect to the floor or of the joint itself, to reduce the efficacy of the joint between the wall and floor.

Although the present description will be directed to describing embodiments of the sealing product and their use, it is to be noted that the scope of protection is not limited to the described embodiments, but rather the scope of protection is more extensive so as to include other forms and variations of the sealing products and their respective components and compositions, and their uses in applications other than specifically described.

BACKGROUND

When constructing building structures, such as for example, utilitarian buildings including warehouses and similar, one of the concerns of the building contractors is to make the building waterproof by providing waterproofing between the various building products being assembled together to construct the building, such as for example, joining the various components to one another in a waterproof manner.

One of the areas where water can leak into the building is through the joint between the floor of the building and the walls of the building, particularly if the joint is located at about the level of or below the level of the surrounding earth around the building or in damp locations. Previous attempts to form an efficacious and durable seal between the floor and wall have not been entirely successful for one reason or another, partly due to the nature and composition of the joint itself, and partly due to expansion and contraction of the various components forming the joint at different rates as the building is exposed to harsh extremes of weather.

One reason why it has been difficult to form an efficacious and durable seal between the floor and the walls is due to the walls being corrugated. Traditional expansion joints cannot be used between a floor and a corrugated wall because the traditional expansion joint cannot adequately penetrate into the depressions of the corrugation. As a consequence, the use of a suitable expansion joint is omitted which creates the following problems:

1. There is no allowance for expansion and contraction.

2. There is no adequate water barrier between the floor and the walls.

3. It is difficult and labour intensive to obtain a smooth and uniform finish at the junction of the floor and wall since the junction must be hand trowelled before the concrete is allowed to set to ensure the concrete is worked into the depressions and projections of the corrugated wall. The use of a bespoke expansion joint such as described herein enables mechanical trowels to be used up to the edge of the joint to create a smooth and uniform finish to the flooring substrate owing to the flat or straight side of the expansion joint.

One reason for the failure of the joint between the wall and floor is movement of the wall with respect to the floor so that the joint develops gaps, voids or spaces allowing the ingress of water through the joint, sometimes to such an extent, such as during excessive rain storms, to flood the floor of the building. This is particularly so when the floor is a concrete slab and the wall is made from profiled metal sheeting due to the difficulty in providing an effective seal between the edge of the concrete slab and the profile of the metal sheets forming the wall. In the past it was necessary to use a suitable chemical compound or composition, such as for example a sealing compound or adhesive compound in the form of a silicon rubber or similar to fill the space or gap between the edge of the concrete slab and the profile of the metal sheet due to irregularities of the respective shapes of the concrete engine and profile of the metal sheets, and mismatching of two different profiles. Having to add a sealing layer of a suitable chemical compound or composition often resulted in degradation or destruction of the chemical seal between the floor and wall due to deterioration of the chemical compound or composition itself and/or due to shrinkage of the chemical compound or composition away from the edge of the concrete slab and/or profile of the metal sheet resulting in formation of gaps, voids or spaces in the joint allowing the ingress of water there through and into the interior of the building. The flow of water through the joint further exacerbates the deterioration of the joint.

Accordingly, there is a need for a sealing product which more effectively seals the joint between the floor and wall of a building and/or is more durable so as to be longer lasting so as to maintain the seal and/or is more resistant to changes or movement of the floor or wall due to extreme fluctuations in temperature.

SUMMARY

According to one form of the present technology, there is provided a barrier strip for sealing a joint of a building structure to inhibit transmission of a fluid through the joint, the building structure having a generally horizontally extending flooring and a generally vertically extending wall including wall elements, the barrier strip comprising: a first side of a first shape, the first shape corresponding to the profile of the flooring of the building structure, and a second side of a second shape, the second shape being complementary to the profile of the wall element of the wall of the building structure, wherein when the barrier strip is located intermediate to the flooring and the wall element with the first side of the barrier strip in contact with a part of the flooring and the second side is in alignment with the wall element to cooperatively engage with the profile of the wall element, the barrier strip seals the joint between the flooring and the wall element to inhibit the transmission of the fluid through the joint.

According to another form of the present technology, there is provided a barrier for sealing a joint of a building structure to inhibit transmission of a fluid through the joint, the building structure having a generally horizontally extending flooring and a generally vertically extending wall including wall elements, the barrier comprising a barrier strip having a first side of a first shape, the first shape corresponding to the profile of the flooring of the building structure, and a second side of a second shape, the second shape being complementary to the profile of the wall element of the wall of the building structure, wherein when the barrier strip is located intermediate the flooring and the wall element with the first side of the barrier strip in contact with a part of the flooring and the second side is in alignment with the wall element to cooperatively engage with the profile of the wall element, the barrier strip seals the joint between the flooring and the wall element to inhibit the transmission of the fluid through the joint.

According to still another form of the present technology, there is provided a wall element for forming the wall of a building structure, the building structure including generally horizontally extending flooring and a generally vertically extending wall, the wall including a multitude of similar wall elements, the wall element comprising a support portion and a barrier strip, the support portion having a profile comprising a multitude of projections or depressions, and the barrier strip having a first side of a first shape, the first shape corresponding to the profile of the flooring of the building structure, the first side facing outwardly of the support portion, and a second side of a second shape, the second side facing towards the support portion, the second shape being complementary to the profile of the wall element having complementary depressions or projections, wherein the barrier strip is located in alignment with the profile of the support member so that projections of the barrier strip are received within depressions of the support member so that when the wall element is located in face to face opposed relationship with the flooring to form the building structure the barrier strip is located intermediate the flooring and the wall element to seal the joint between the flooring and the wall element to inhibit the ingress of fluid through the joint.

In one form of the present technology, there is provided a method of forming a barrier for sealing a joint of a building structure to inhibit transmission of a fluid through the joint, the building structure having a generally horizontally extending flooring and a generally vertically extending wall including wall elements, the method including the steps of forming the generally vertically extending wall having the wall elements, abutting a barrier against the wall element wherein the barrier comprises: a barrier strip having a first side of a first shape, the first shape corresponding to the profile of the flooring of the building structure, and a second side of a second shape, the second shape being complementary to the profile of the wall element of the wall of the building structure at the position where the barrier strip is to be located, forming the generally horizontally extending flooring, wherein when the barrier strip is located intermediate the flooring and the wall element, the first side of the barrier strip contacts the flooring and the second side of the barrier strip is in alignment with the wall element to cooperatively engage with the profile of the wall element, and the barrier strip seals the joint between the flooring and the wall element to inhibit the transmission of the fluid through the joint.

According to one form of the present technology, there is provided a method of forming a barrier for sealing a joint of a building structure to inhibit transmission of a fluid through the joint, the building structure having a generally horizontally extending flooring and a generally vertically extending wall including wall elements, the method including the steps of forming the generally horizontally extending flooring, forming the generally vertically extending wall having the wall elements and locating a barrier intermediate the flooring and the wall element wherein the barrier comprises a barrier strip having a first side of a first shape, the first shape corresponding to the profile of the flooring of the building structure, and a second side of a second shape, the second shape being complementary to the profile of the wall element of the wall of the building structure at the position where the barrier strip is to be located, wherein when the barrier strip is located intermediate the flooring and the wall element, the first side of the barrier strip contacts the flooring and the second side of the barrier strip is in alignment with the wall element to cooperatively engage with the profile of the wall element, the barrier strip seals the joint between the flooring and the wall element to inhibit the transmission of the fluid through the joint.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Forms of the building structure include commercial, utilitarian, functional, industrial, farm or similar buildings, such as for example, warehouses, factories, sheds, barns, garages, storage facilities, silos, and the like.

Forms of the building structures include a flooring or floor substrate, typically a generally horizontally extending flooring substrate, more typically extending between walls of the building structure from one end to an opposite end and from one side to an opposite side, more typically covering the entire footprint of the building structure. In one form, the flooring substrate is more or less continuous over the entire area and is substantially uniform in composition, such as for example, being of a grade of concrete having properties and characteristics suitable for the intended purpose of the building structure.

In one form the flooring substrate is made from concrete or concrete-like material, typically in the form of a slab, more typically in the form of a reinforced slab of concrete containing mesh reinforcement. In forms of the building structure the concrete slab is poured after the walls of the building structure have been erected. However, in other forms the concrete slab is poured prior to construction of the walls of the building structure.

Preferably, the insertion of the expansion joint occurs after the walls have been installed or constructed or assembled. Once applied to the wall, the expansion joint acts in conjunction with the wall to create the form work for holding back the concrete floor as it is poured. The expansion joint can be positioned on the wall so that the top of the expansion joint creates a useful height marker for pouring and finishing the concrete.

Although the wall of the building structure can be made from any suitable or convenient material and have any suitable or convenient form, size, style, shape, or similar, preferred forms of the wall are made from wall elements in the form of sheets, panels, partitions, cladding, facades or similar material. Preferably, the wall elements are metal sheets, such as for example corrugated metal sheets or profiled metal sheets. Typical examples of sheets include corrugated galvanised iron, profiled colour bond panels, decking sheets having combinations of projections and depressions, or similar.

Although the material from which the barrier strip is manufactured can be any suitable or convenient material, preferably the material is adapted to take and retain the shape imparted to it, which shape is typically complementary to the shape or profile of the profiled sheet to which the strip is to be attached or in abutting contact there with.

Forms of the barrier strip can have any suitable or convenient characteristics or properties, typically dependent upon the end use of either the barrier strip or the building structure in which the barrier strip is to be located. In one form, the barrier strip, in addition to being an expansion joint, is also flame resistant or fire resistant. Forms of the expansion joint inhibit, prevent or retard the spread of fire or flames through the joint, particularly if the fire resistant expansion joint is additionally sealed with a fire retardant or fire resistant bonding agent, such as for example a fire resistant grout or similar.

Forms of the material of the barrier strip are rigid materials, semi-rigid materials, flexible materials, compressible materials, resiliently deformable materials, or similar.

Forms of the semi-rigid material or deformable material of the barrier include the barrier being resiliently deformable, malleable, deformable but resuming substantially the shape before deformation, or similar.

The fire resistant material may have a density ranging from 44 and 48 kg/m³.

The fire resistant material may have a flame spread index (FSI) ranging from 10-20. Suitably, the fire resistant material has a FSI of about 15.

The fire resistant material may have a smoke developed index (SDI) ranging from 100-200. Suitably, the fire resistant material has a SDI of about 150.

The fire resistant material may comply with the requirements of ASTM E84 and/or ASTM C795.

One preferred fire resistant material of the barrier strip is marketed by BASF under the name ELASTOPOR PH 1640 which is a rigid polyisocyanurate (PIR) closed cell foam based on mixture of polyols, poly-diphenylmethane diisocyanate and a suitable or convenient blowing agent, such as for example, a blowing agent using zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) blowing agent technology (HFC).

Forms of the barrier strip include a gasket or a material having gasket-like properties or characteristics, such as for example compressibility or similar, for adapting to the space, void or gap between the inwardly facing profile of the wall element and the concrete floor slab, more typically the edge of the concrete floor slab, and even more typically the outwardly facing edge of the slab.

Preferred materials and/or compositions from which the barrier strip can be manufactured include polyurethanes, urethanes, closed cell urethanes, open cellular urethanes or polyurethanes, foamed materials, cured materials, cross-linked materials, thermoset materials, thermoplastic materials, ethers, polyethers, elastomers, resiliently deformable polymers, rubbers, rubber-like materials including nitriles, EDPM, styrene butadiene rubbers, mouldable materials, aerated materials or similar materials including naturally occurring materials and synthetic materials.

One preferred material is a rigid or semi-rigid material, typically a urethane marketed by Pacific Urethanes under the name Urepak Rigid 90 43 which is a low reactivity polyurethane rigid foam based on polyester polyol, PMDI isocyanate (methylene-4,4′-diphenyl diisocyanate and associated polymeric isocyanates) and a suitable or convenient blowing agent, such as for example, a blowing agent using zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) blowing agent technology (HFC).

The polyurethane foam can be dispensed through low and high pressure equipment or can be hand-mixed and poured.

The foam is provided in the form of a high performance block foam, typically having a core density ranging from 20 to 40 kg per cubic meter for general purpose thermal insulation applications. Suitably, the core density is about 34 kg per cubic metre.

Typical properties or characteristics of the Urepak Rigid 90 43 include the following:

Part A (Urepac™ Rigid 90 43) Specification

1100 kg per 1000 L IBC, 220 kg per 205 L Closed top drum.

Specific Gravity (22° C.): 1.10±0.02 g/ml

Viscosity (Brookfield) (22° C.): 400±100 m·Pas

Appearance: Clear Straw liquid

Part B (Urepac™ 2001 PMDI) Specification

250 kg per 205 L Closed top drum.

Specific Gravity (22° C.): 1.23±0.02 g/ml

Viscosity (Brookfield) (22° C.): 210±70 m.

Appearance: Clear Brown liquid

Processing Conditions Temperature

The temperature of both components should be maintained at 20-25° C. to ensure that a sufficient mix and reaction is obtained. The temperature of the mould boxes should be maintained between 25-30° C. to achieve optimal finished product. As such, the optimal temperature range for forming the barrier strip ranges from 20-30° C.

Cured Foam Properties

Mix Ratio 100 Polyol (Rigid 90 43): 140 PMDI (UrePac 2001) (w/w)

Cream Time (22° C.): 90±10 seconds

String time (22° C.): 300±20 seconds

Rise time (22° C.): 420±20 seconds

Free Rise Density (22° C.): 40-45 Kg/m3

Obtained from Laboratory cup test

Core Density: 39±1 Kg/m3

Closed Cell Content: 90-95%

K Value: 0.022±0.002 W/mK

Compressive Strength: 200±10 KPa

Water Absorption: <1% by volume

Temperature Range: −30 to 120° C.

Forms of the materials from which the barrier strips are produced include any suitable or convenient form, type, size, composition, style or profile. Preferred forms of the manufactured materials for producing the barrier strips include sheets, slabs, blocks, panels, or the like. Sheets or blocks of a suitable material, such as Urepak Rigid 90 43, are shaped or profiled to the required shape or profile in accordance with the exact shape or profile of the metal sheet forming the wall element of the building structure to which the barrier is applied. Typically, one side or face of the sheet or block is profiled whilst the opposite side or face remains substantially flat, linear or rectilinear, being straight and having a generally smooth and continuous surface, such as, a flat surface. More typically, the flat surface corresponds to the generally flat surface of the edge of the concrete slab.

Although any suitable or convenient form of shaping or profiling the core or block of foam or other material may be used, it is preferred that the core or block be shaped using laser beams or similar, such as for example using a machine which is known as a “Fast Wire Profiling Machine” often referred to as “Fastwires”. One description of a “Fastwire” is an abrasive wire machine that is effectively a wire saw which effectively have a high-speed electric motor driving an abrasive wire that is able to cut through a variety of foam types. One manufacturer of such machines is “Wintech” which provide an economical solution for cutting a wide range of materials.

Forms of the barrier include being substantially elongate strips having a height or width of from about 50 mm to about 400 mm, typically from about 75 mm to about 300 mm, preferably from about 100 mm to about 200 mm or more, more preferably being about 100 mm, about 150 mm, about 200 mm.

Forms of the barrier strip have profiles with projections in the form of hills ranging from about 15 mm to about 65 mm, typically ranging from about 20 mm to about 50 mm, more typically ranging from about 25 mm to about 40 mm.

Forms of the barrier strip have profiles with a depression in the form of a valley in the range of from about 5 mm to about 25 mm, typically in the range from about 10 mm to about 20 mm, more typically in the range from about 12 mm to about 18 mm.

Typical examples of profiles of corrugated iron are provided in FIG. 4.

The strip can have any convenient or suitable length, typically up to about 3 m, more typically up to about 2.5 m, most typically up to about 2.4 m.

The block or sheet or core from which the barrier is formed can have any suitable or convenient dimensions, such as for example a length of up to about 3 m and a width of up to about 2 m, typically a length of up to about 2.5 m and width of up to about 1.5 m, more typically a length of up to about 2.4 m and the width of up to about 1.2 m.

The barrier strip can be formed from the sheet, block or core of suitable material by cutting multiple lengths or sections from the sheet, block or core, typically using suitable cutting means or devices, such as for example cutting blades located in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship to one another in which the spacing apart of the blades corresponds to the height of the individual barrier strip. In forms of the cutting device, the spacing between individual blades is substantially constant whereas in other forms the spacing between individual blades is variable so that barrier strips having different heights can be produced simultaneously, typically a fast wire machine using a rotating wire to cut polyurethane foam into strips having a predetermined width.

In forms of the wall element, the barrier strip, after cutting to size and shaping to the required profile, is attached to one surface of the wall element, typically the inside surface or inside facing side of the metal sheet forming the wall element. The barrier strip is attached to the wall element, typically adhered to the inwardly facing surface of the wall element which is typically in the form of a profiled Colorbond sheet, using an adhesive, bonding agent, glue, paste, gel, or other material or chemical composition for fixedly adhering the barrier strip to the metal sheet. However, it is to be noted that other means for attaching the barrier strip to the metal sheet are possible. For example, the barrier strip maybe fastened to the metal sheet using fasteners such as screws.

Forms of the adhesive can be a permanent adhesive or be a releasable adhesive, typically in the form of a tacky or sticky adhesive or similar. A preferred adhesive is manufactured by 3M and available as “Scotch-Weld™” cylinder spray adhesive foamFast 74NF for use with soft foams. FoamFast 74NF is a synthetic elastomer of about 28% solids after propellant removal, typically in the form of an aerosol having a solids content of about 22.3%. The adhesive is usually applied by spraying.

Another preferred adhesive is a general purpose double coated tissue tape manufactured by 3M under the product code #9075 which is an acrylic adhesive double side silicone treated/poly coated liner, typically having a thickness of adhesive of 0.08 mm. A preferred construction of the tape is a 4 layer construction of acrylic adhesive, tissue, acrylic adhesive and poly coated liner in which the acrylic adhesive is cross-linked and tackified.

Forms of the expansion joint, particularly fire inhibiting expansion joints are provided with a body section or segment, such as for example a wall section having a generally constant cross section, and a head section located along one edge of the wall section. In one form, the head section is an enlarged section, more typically a symmetrically enlarged head section extending outwardly on either side of the constant width wall section.

In one form the enlarged head section is an enlarged section having tapered edges, typically a tapered edge on both sides of the expansion joint. In one form the expansion joint is provided with a groove, rebate, channel or other depression, typically a depression extending lengthwise along the entire length of the expansion joint. In one form the depression acts as a hinge to allow the movement of the enlarged tapered edge with respect to the plane of the wall section, typically deflection movement or similar. In one form the depression is a part circular groove or channel, typically a circular groove sub tending an angle of less than about 180°, more typically an angle in the range from about 90° to about 180°, even more typically from about 120° to about 150°, preferably about 145°.

Forms of the wall section of the fire resistant or fire inhibiting expansion joint are in the range from about 100 mm to about 300 mm, typically in the range from about 120 mm to about 240 mm, more typically in the range from about 150 mm to about 200 mm, even more typically in the range from about 170° to about 180°. Typical single values of the height of the wall section are 120 mm, 150 mm, 175 mm, 200 mm and 240 mm.

It is to be noted that the length of the fire inhibiting expansion joint can be any value from about a few millimetres to about 12 m, depending upon the size of the gap into which the expansion joint is to be located.

Typical widths of the wall section of the fire inhibiting expansion joint are in the range of from about 5 mm to about 40 mm, typically in the range from about 10 mm to about 30 mm, more typically in the range of from about 15 mm to about 25 mm, preferably about 20 mm.

Although the width of the enlarged head section of the expansion joint can be of any suitable or convenient size, it is to be noted that sizes of up to about 100 mm are included. Typically, the maximum width of the enlarged head is in the range from about 30 mm to about 80 mm, more typically in the range from about 40 mm to about 60 mm, preferably in the range from about 40 to 45 mm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the barrier strip of the present description will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

FIG. 1 is a schematic part front perspective and part side cross-section view of one form of a wall element having one form of a barrier strip attached thereto located on one form of a flooring to illustrate the spatial relationship of the components of the building structure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic horizontal cross section view from above showing one arrangement of wall element, barrier strip and concrete slab for forming the expansion joint between the concrete slab and the wall.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of one form of a profile wall element and barrier strip attached thereto shown in isolation.

FIG. 4 shows various profiles of the corrugation of the wall element.

FIG. 5 is an end view of one form of a fire inhibiting or fire resistant expansion joint having an enlarged head section located lengthwise along one edge of the wall section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

One form of a wall element for forming a wall of a building structure, such as for example a farm shed or similar, is in the form of a panel of profiled metal sheet, generally denoted as 12, having suitable dimensions in accordance with the requirements of the shed, including a length corresponding to the height of the wall of the shed and a suitable width.

It is to be noted that a multitude of individual panels 12 a, 12 b are connected to one another in longitudinal side to longitudinal side overlapping relationship to one another to form the wall of the shed as shown more particularly in FIG. 2.

Panel 12 is provided with a plurality of projections in the form of ridges 14 extending outwardly of the plane 16 of panel 12. It is to be noted that the plane 16 corresponds to the body portion or datum point of panel 12. Ridges 14 are arranged to extend in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship to one another to extend from the base of panel 12 when installed in the wall of the shed to the top of the panel 12 to which the ceiling/roof of the shed is attached. It is to be noted that the under surface of ridge 14 forms an elongate cavity having a complementary shape to the shape of ridge 14.

In forms of panel 12, plane portions 16 are optionally provided with strengthening ribs 18 extending in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship to one another from one end of panel 12 to the other end of panel 12. Ribs 18 are parallel to one another and are parallel to ridges 14, as shown more particularly in FIG. 1.

A length of rigid material for forming an expansion joint for sealing the joint between the floor or flooring, in the form of a concrete slab floor 30 and the wall formed from a multitude of over lapping panels 12, in the form of a barrier strip, generally denoted as 20, has a profiled outwardly facing side, referred to as the reverse face 22, for facing towards the internal surface of panel 12 when installed as part of the wall of the shed and a flat or straight side facing internally into the shed, which side is referred to as the obverse face 24 of barrier strip 20. The rigid material of barrier strip 20 is Urepak Rigid 90 43.

Obverse face 24 is flat corresponding to the flat/straight edge of the concrete slab 30 forming the floor of the shed. Reverse face 22 is provided with projections, in the form of hills 26 and valleys 28 arranged alternately with one another over the length of barrier strip 20 so that hills 26 extend in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship to one another over the entire height of barrier strip 20. The profile of hills 26 corresponds to the profile of ridges 14 of panel 12 so that hills 26 are received within the voids or cavities, such as the elongate cavity, on the underside of ridges 14 by the shape of hills 26 being complementary to the shape of ridges 14. The profile of valleys 28 of barrier strip 20 corresponds to the profile of plane portions 26 of panel 12 so that valleys 28 are in abutting relationship with plane portions 26.

The plurality of individual wall panels 12 are installed in substantially parallel overlapping relationship to one another to form the wall of the shed with barrier strip 20 facing internally into the interior of the shed. This forms a form work for receiving concrete to form the flooring of the shed. Concrete slab 30 is then poured into the form work and screeded smooth to form the flooring of the shed with the edges of the slab in abutting relationship with obverse face 24 of barrier strip 20, as shown more particularly in FIG. 2.

Owing to the obverse face 24 of barrier strip 20 being flat corresponding to the flat edge of slab 30, barrier strip 20 forms a seal between panel 12 and slab 30 at one side of barrier 20. Additionally, owing to the profile of reverse face 22 of barrier strip 20 matching the profile of panel 12 and barrier strip 20 being located in alignment with panel 12 so that hills 26 are received within ridges 14, barrier strip 20 forms a seal between the wall of the shed and the concrete floor of the shed. Fasteners such as screws can be used to more securely fasten the wall panel to the concrete flooring.

In FIG. 5 there is shown one form of a fire resistant or flame retardant expansion joint 40 having a body section in the form of a wall section 42 and an enlarged head portion 44 having a pair of oppositely inclined tapering edges 46, 48 located on either side of wall section 42 and extending outwardly therefrom. A part circular groove 50 is located at the junction of wall section 42 and enlarged head 44 along the lengthwise extending edges of expansion joint 40. The expansion joint 40 is made from a rigid polyisocyanurate (PIR) closed cell foam. Suitably, the material used to form expansion joint 40 is ELASTOPOR PH 1640.

Selected properties of ELASTOPOR PH 1640 is set out below.

Chemical properties: Viscosity at 25° C. Polyol component 1130 mPas Isocyanate component 150~350 mPas Specific gravity at Polyol component with 141b 1.22 cm³/g 20° C. (DIN 51757) Isocyanate component 1.23~1.24 cm³/g Water content 0.37 ± 0.1%

Physical properties: Reactivity at 20/20° C. Hand mix Chemical temp.: 20/20° C., mix speed: 1500 rpm, 20 sec Cream time (sec.) 75 Gel time (sec.) 190  Rise time (sec) — Free rise density (kg/m³) 45

Foam property (by hand mix - speed Mixer 1500 rpm and Mixer diameter 65 mm): Property Standard Unit Value Core density DIN EN ISO kg/m³ 45 845 Compressive strength (Parallel) DIN 53421 kgf/cm² 2.77 Compressive strength (Vertical) DIN 53421 kgf/cm² 1.53 Dimension stability (−30° C. × % −0.37 24 hr) Dimension stability (70° C. × % 0.15 24 hr) ‘K’ factor DIN 52612 W/mK 0.0236

In use, when there is a gap or clearance between the two components which requires sealing so as to be flame or fire resistant or retardant or inhibiting so as to prevent the spread or propagation of fire or flames through or past the gap or clearance. Expansion joint 40 is located within the gap or clearance with enlarged head 44 outermost of the gap or clearance so that the tapered edges 46, 48 completely fill the entrance or opening of the gap or clearance. A suitable fire retardant, inhibiting or resistant material, such as for example, a fire grout or similar is introduced into the space occupied by the gap or clearance and expansion joint 40 so as to completely fill the space to seal the two components, such as a metal sheet wall and concrete slab flooring, or two individual segments or sections of a concrete floor, thereby rendering the space fireproof, flameproof or at least compliant with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) relating to the propagation of fire in building structures.

It is to be noted that other forms of the fire resistant expansion joint are possible, as is the use of the various forms of the expansion joints in other applications.

Advantages of one or more embodiments of the expansion joint include one or more of the following.

One advantage of the barrier strip is that the strip can be used as an expansion joint.

Another advantage of the barrier strip is that the strip can be used as a separator between the concrete slab of the flooring and the metal panels of the wall.

Similar barrier strips are not currently available commercially for use with different profiles of the corrugations of the wall panels.

Currently, most floor slabs are poured directly against the corrugated walls. The separation provided by the barrier strip will prevent corrosion of the metal wall panels at the junction between the floor and the walls where the concrete makes direct contact with the walls. When a floor slab sits directly against corrugated iron (the juncture) water can easily penetrate the juncture and sit in the juncture and in the pores of the concrete at the juncture. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere then reacts with the water to form weak carbonic acids. The carbonic acids react with the calcium hydroxide in the concrete and calcium carbonates are deposited. Eventually, the level of calcium hydroxide is consumed and is replaced with neutral solid compounds and the pH of the concrete is reduced to between 7 and 9 or less. As the pH is reduced (becomes more acidic) the metal walls begin to corrode.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. 

1. A barrier strip for sealing a joint of a building structure to inhibit transmission of a fluid through the joint, the building structure having a generally horizontally extending flooring and a generally vertically extending wall including wall elements, the barrier strip comprising: a first side of a first shape, the first shape corresponding to the profile of the flooring of the building structure, and a second side of a second shape, the second shape being complementary to the profile of the wall element of the wall of the building structure, wherein when the barrier strip is located intermediate to the flooring and the wall element with the first side of the barrier strip in contact with a part of the flooring and the second side is in alignment with the wall element to cooperatively engage with the profile of the wall element, the barrier strip seals the joint between the flooring and the wall element to inhibit the transmission of the fluid through the joint.
 2. The barrier strip according to claim 1, having a core density ranging from 20 to 40 kg per cubic meter.
 3. The barrier strip according to claim 1, having one or more of the following properties: a cream time (22° C.) of about 90±10 seconds, a string time (22° C.) of about 300±20 seconds, a rise time (22° C.) of about 420±20 seconds, a Free Rise Density (22° C.) ranging from 40-45 Kg/m³, a Closed Cell Content ranging from 90-95%, K Value of about 0.022±0.002 W/mK, and a Compressive Strength of about 200±10 kPa.
 4. The barrier strip according to claim 1, wherein the first side is substantially flat, linear or rectilinear.
 5. The barrier strip according to claim 1, wherein the second side has a profile with projections in the form of hills ranging from 15 mm to about 65 mm.
 6. The barrier strip according to claim 1, wherein the second side has a profile with a depression in the form of a valley ranging from 5 mm to about 25 mm.
 7. The barrier strip according to claim 1, comprising a wall section having a generally constant cross section and a head section located along one edge of the wall section.
 8. The barrier strip according to claim 7, wherein the head section is a symmetrically enlarged head section extending outwardly on either side of the wall section.
 9. The barrier strip according to claim 1, comprising a depression extending lengthwise along the barrier strip.
 10. The barrier strip according to claim 1, including an attachment means to attach the barrier strip to the wall element.
 11. The barrier strip according to claim 1, wherein the barrier strip is flame or fire resistant.
 12. The barrier strip according to claim 1, wherein the barrier strip is resiliently deformable.
 13. A wall element for forming the wall of a building structure, the building structure including generally horizontally extending flooring and a generally vertically extending wall, the wall including a multitude of similar wall elements, the wall element comprising a support portion and a barrier strip according to claim 1, the support portion having a profile comprising a multitude of projections and a multitude of depressions alternately arranged in which a projection is located intermediate adjacent depressions and a depression is located intermediate adjacent projections, and wherein the barrier strip is located in alignment with the profile of the support member so that projections of the barrier strip are received within the depressions of the support member and the depressions of the barrier strip receive the projections of the support member so that when the wall element is located in face to face opposed relationship with the flooring to form the building structure the barrier strip is located intermediate the flooring and the wall element to seal the joint between the flooring and the wall element.
 14. A barrier for sealing a joint of a building structure to inhibit transmission of a fluid through the joint, the building structure having a generally horizontally extending flooring and a generally vertically extending wall including wall elements, the barrier comprising a barrier strip according to claim 1, wherein when the barrier strip is located intermediate the flooring and the wall element with the first side of the barrier strip in contact with a part of the flooring and the second side is in alignment with the wall element to cooperatively engage with the profile of the wall element, the barrier strip seals the joint between the flooring and the wall element to inhibit the transmission of the fluid through the joint.
 15. A method of forming a barrier for sealing a joint of a building structure to inhibit transmission of a fluid through the joint, the building structure having a generally horizontally extending flooring and a generally vertically extending wall including wall elements, the method including the steps of: forming the generally vertically extending wall having the wall elements, and abutting a barrier against the wall element wherein the barrier comprises: a barrier strip having a first side of a first shape, the first shape corresponding to the profile of the flooring of the building structure, and a second side of a second shape, the second shape being complementary to the profile of the wall element of the wall of the building structure at the position where the barrier strip is to be located, forming the generally horizontally extending flooring, wherein when the barrier strip is located intermediate the flooring and the wall element, the first side of the barrier strip contacts the flooring and the second side of the barrier strip is in alignment with the wall element to cooperatively engage with the profile of the wall element, and the barrier strip seals the joint between the flooring and the wall element to inhibit the transmission of the fluid through the joint.
 16. The method according to claim 15, including forming the barrier strip at a temperature ranging from 20-30° C.
 17. The method according to claim 15, including shaping the first side to form a substantially flat, linear or rectilinear surface.
 18. The method according to claim 15, including shaping the second side to form projections in the form of hills ranging from 15 mm to about 65 mm.
 19. The method according to claim 15, including shaping the second side to form a depression in the form of a valley ranging from 5 mm to about 25 mm.
 20. The method according to claim 15, including attaching the barrier strip to one surface of the wall element.
 21. The method according to claim 15, including arranging the generally vertically extending wall to form a form work for the flooring.
 22. The method according to claim 21, including pouring concrete into the form work to form the flooring.
 23. The method according to claim 22, positioning the expansion joint on the wall so that the top of the expansion joint creates a height marker for pouring and finishing the concrete. 